Monday, December 31, 2007

Auld Lang Syne

The year's about over. We spent all of last week in Oklahoma (or on the road to and from Oklahoma, mostly), and tonight we're going to a New Year's Party at Lauren's.

It's been a rough year for Dim Bulb, one with fewer comics that I'd have liked. I've got plans in motion for the coming year, and hopefully I'll be able to get more comics done for the coming year.

Anyway, Happy New Year! May Aught Eight be even better than Aught Seven!

Thursday, December 20, 2007

"There's no place like home for the holidays"

So Michelle and I are going to Oklahoma for Christmas.

We're driving, 'cause plane tickets were remarkably absurd. $700 for one ticket? That's beyond ridiculous (beyond Thunderdome, even!). So we're making it a roadtrip. A stopover in St. Louis to see some relatives of hers, a quick jaunt over to Norman to see some friends of mine, and even a stop in Clarksville to see the Monkey and his folks (that's gonna be Wednesday, by the by, Monkey).

Sadly, the trip is going to be pretty quick. We've got to come back and rest up for the return to school the following week (cursed short breaks!). I think this is a good sign that I'm really meant to be a college professor: a whole month off would be a glorious thing.

Wednesday, November 14, 2007

Back from the dead?!

Sorry I've been out of contact, folks. We got kittens over the weekend, and they're a real handful. I'll post some pictures later.

Oh, and I named one of them Ninja Steve.

No, this doesn't explain my absence prior to the acquisition of kittens. Shut up.

Friday, November 02, 2007

Pumpkin of Chaos!

The above is a pumpkin some of my students carved on Halloween.

It's me.

In hindsight, I shoulda scaled the photo rather than leaving it so big, but I was unaware it was gonna be that big. Oh well.

Monday, October 15, 2007

Here's the Plan

Okay, so I finally sketched a couple of comics this morning, which I'm rather happy about. I'm going to try to get at least one of them drawn tonight, and maybe switch to a Tuesday/Thursday schedule for awhile? I feel the MWF thing is definitely not working (and hasn't for quite awhile), but maybe a more relaxed schedule will feel less overwhelming and will give me more incentive to get stuff drawn.

Also, I got caught up on Heroes over the weekend. Very groovy.

Friday, October 05, 2007

Blunder!

So I made a comic for today. It can be found here, in the past. Apparently I am completely not aware of what date it is.

Tuesday, September 25, 2007

Shame!

I accidentally fell asleep last night and missed the season premiere of Heroes.

Were I Hiro, I would now have to fall on my sword in shame...or travel back in time and fix it.

"Save the teacher, save the world."

Yeah.

Sunday, September 23, 2007

Race Car Ya-Yas

There is a comic. For you.

Enjoy. More to follow, finally.

Sunday, September 16, 2007

This time, it's not my fault

It appears the domain name expired on us, so the fact that the site is down is totally not my fault this time.

Wednesday, September 12, 2007

"We Can Be Heroes"

Sorry about the lack of updates. I'm in the middle of watching Season 1 of Heroes.

Comics next week, God willing.

Wednesday, August 22, 2007

"My Oklahoma Home Was Blown Away"

Michelle and I have returned from Oklahoma bearing the bounty of that windswept, vacant place. We visited the whole family (an action made easier by the fact that Dad's side of the family was all gathered together to celebrate his recent nuptials), ate way more red meat than is really healthy for anyone (steaks the size of the plate and an inch thick? Day-um), and spent a lot of time driving a rental car back and forth across northern Oklahoma (I estimate we drove about 600 miles over the course of the five day visit).

The positives: Michelle finally got to meet my family, no one said "I-talian" (emphasis on the long "I"), we didn't miss any flights (though getting to Tulsa International Airport this morning was a near thing), we got fed fantastic food (I'm not sure Michelle agrees on this point; but then, she was horrified to discover how white gravy is made), and I got to play guitar with Dad, Uncle Gert, and Clyde. We also got to meet Clif's girlfriend and Scott's girlfriend, both of whom seemed quite nice.

All in all, it was a pretty good trip. Of course, vacations always seem to almost be more trouble than they're worth; the traveling and various frustrations along the way (I had a panic attack at 4:30 this morning because I got lost going back to the airport from Dad's house (Mom got a fun little call then; thank God she wakes up at the ass-crack of dawn). But all in all, good times.

Also, about the site breakage: my bad. I really blame Adam, though, since he's the one who told me to use the particular FTP program that seems to be lousing up the site. Yes, it's all Adam's fault.

Thursday, August 16, 2007

Comics Ahoy!

Alright, so tomorrow afternoon I'm heading to Oklahoma for a few days. I already got one comic done, but I want to get a couple more done before I go. I'll keep you posted on that.

My wife is terrified of Oklahoma. I don't think she's ever been further west than the Appalachian Mountains.

Thursday, August 09, 2007

Actually...

...if you click on the "Back" button, you'll see the filler art I worked so tirelessly to get posted. S'truth.

Sunday, August 05, 2007

Everything is Broken

Dunno what's going on with the site now. The archives are busted, the comic won't update, and I'm getting rather fed up with the whole thing. The archives are still available through the alternate site, but it's frustrating that this is happening. Monkey, weren't there talks of maybe switching hosts? Perhaps we should do that.

Friday, August 03, 2007

Burning Rage

The site won't freakin' update. I uploaded the file, I went into quickadmin, I told it to update the site, and the site won't update. Monkey, maybe you can get something done here, 'cause Lord knows it's not working for me.

Wednesday, August 01, 2007

"A Man With Three Buttocks"

Okay, I got an FTP thing up and running, I've uploaded a little filler art for you that should update at midnight, and all is groovy in the world.

In large part because we're watching Monty Python's Flying Circus. Our friend Lauren got Michelle the complete series for her birthday, which makes Lauren one of the coolest people in TEH WERLD.

Yes, all is right in the world.

Tuesday, July 17, 2007

The Can't Update Blues

Still can't get access to the Site Admin to update. This is becoming frustrating, even if all I was going to post was some filler.

Wonder if I can get an FTP client running again like I used to use...hmm...

Monday, July 16, 2007

How we suffer for our art

So I actually drew some stuff today, but I can't get into Site Admin, so I can't post it to the site.

Hopefully this little problem will correct itself in the next couple of days, as I feel rather creative and might actually be able to get some comics done while I'm on my little mini-vacation.

Thursday, July 12, 2007

The hardest button to button

Sorry about the radio silence and general lack of comicage. Teaching summer school is a lot more involved than I remember it being (maybe because I'm teaching writing this year instead of just journalism). That, coupled with my extreme lack of car air conditioning, renders me quite tired when I get home. I generally feel like just taking a cold shower and sitting naked under the AC until the world goes away or my wife gets home.

Anyway, I'm trying to figure out a way to get back into the groove. I've been producing stuff in fits and starts for the past year or so anyway, and that bugs me. I've sorta got the next few comics in the Earl blogging storyline figured out, but I need to sit down and actually draw them.

On the positive side, I'm taking a few days off next week to relax with the missus. Maybe that's the break I need to get my creative juices bubblin' again.

Saturday, June 23, 2007

"Go For It"

Much like the Monkey, I'm not receiving messages in my bar of deodorant. I don't know exactly what it wants me to "go for," as it were...putting on deodorant, I guess, or possibly it's some personal hygiene form of the fortune cookie telling me it's time to aim high and just "go for it." I dunno. Either way, it is vaguely disconcerting being given instructions by a stick of something I rub under my arms on a daily basis.

Already got two comics drawn for the upcoming week with more in the wings. I had a creative burst last night and scripted about a dozen or so comics. Thing is, a lot of them I realized wouldn't work in the context of what I've already started for this current storyline, so I've got the groundwork for a future storyline already done now, I guess. I've also got my bearings on the current storyline now, so I should be able to get back up to speed and get some comics cranked out for your viewing pleasure.

Monday, June 18, 2007

Is it just me?

I can't get access to Dim Bulb right now. Don't know if the site itself is down or if the computers at school just suck. Regardless, I did upload a comic for today, so let me know if you can see it (I won't be home for a few hours, so I can't really check myself).

Friday, June 15, 2007

Hmmm....

Site appears to be down. I don't know why this is. I'd assume the Monkey might know, but that would be giving him credit (and I dunno if I want to take that risk).

Should have some real, honest-to-God comics up next week. Honest.

Wednesday, May 30, 2007

"Let Me Draw You"

These are all things my wife's actually said. Really.

I don't know why the site's not auto-updating. I had everything uploaded on Sunday, but things weren't updating like they're supposed to. I've had to manually update the comic both times this week. Weird.

Sunday, May 27, 2007

Dirty Frank

Sorry about the lack of comic on Friday. I've got two comics done and uploaded for Monday and Wednesday, and should be able to complete another comic by Friday.

Been watching a lot of Scrubs, as we apparently purchased all five season sets during the course of the month. It's a damn fine show, I have to say. Though I do wonder how someone as oblivious as JD obviously is could have made it through med school and become a doctor.

Michelle just keeps wondering when it'll be revealed that JD is schizophrenic and the entire show actually took place inside his mind and that the various characters are all just aspects of his fractured psyche. I'm thinking series' finale.

Sunday, May 20, 2007

Living in a goldfish bowl

My wife decided we needed an aquarium and some fish and stuff. So we've got fish now. This is exciting.

Comic's already drawn and uploaded for Monday. Shouldn't have too much trouble getting a full three comics this week...depending on my ability to come up with what to do next, granted.

Monday, May 07, 2007

Shooka Shooka

Next comic on Wednesday. Based on a true story, even.

Honest.

Life ain't too shabby. I'm goin' camping Thursday with the school, so that should be...interesting.

Monday, April 30, 2007

Ka-bread

New comic was uploaded this evening. It'll post tomorrow. Still trying to work out a new update schedule. I like the old MWF routine, but will it work for what I'm doing now? Remains to be seen.

Also: tomorrow's comic taken almost verbatim from a phone conversation my wife had with her youngest sister this evening. The Brancos are weird people, folks. Weird people.

Saturday, April 28, 2007

Is that Supertramp I hear?

I feel like I'm really getting a handle on the tablet thing. It takes me about the same length of time to get a drawing done this way as with pen and paper, except I can go back and redraw something if it turns out wrong without having to scrap the whole comic.

The one disadvantage so far is I can't figure out how to make a box for the panels. So far I've just hand-drawn (well, with the tablet) the panels, but you can see that hasn't been very effective or nice-looking. What I may try to do is use a straight-edge with the tablet stylus and see if that works.

The other difficulty is judging size issues. I know the past couple of comics have been either too big or too small. I'm still getting a feel for how that works, too. The problem, really, is that my laptop is a widescreen, so it fits on my computer screen perfectly. On computers with a regular screen and lower resolution? Not so much. Guess I'll have to figure out how to compensate for that.

I'm enjoying the tablet so far, though. My hope is to improve enough that I can start adding things like color to it, too.

Monday, April 23, 2007

Tablet tablet tablet tablet

I got a tablet.

It rocks.

I'm still learning to use it.

Comic-thingie tomorrow.

Maybe real comic Wednesday.

Sunday, April 15, 2007

Commence Transmission

My unintended (but ultimately beneficial) hiatus is nearing its end. I should be able to get the tablet by the end of next week, and as soon as I've got some grasp of how the thing works, I'll be posting comics again.

The break's really recharged my creative batteries and got me excited to draw again. I spent my time doing random sketches without any goal or purpose, and the results were that my art improved a bit and I slightly redesigned some characters.

The real question before me, though, is whether or not to continue doing Crooked Halo.

Don't get me wrong: I love doing the comic, I love the characters and everything, but I'm not sure what else I can really do with them or where to take them. Additionally, I've got plans in the works for a comic based on the conversations of my wife and a few of our friends that I'm really excited about. The thematic content and style would be totally different from what I'm currently doing, which is probably part of the draw.

I'd love to be able to do both, but will I have the time to devote to such endeavours? I'd want to keep Crooked Halo on the three-days-a-week schedule, but what about the new comic? Once a week? Twice? Three times? I don't know if I could keep up with that.

We'll just have to see what happens. I really don't want to abandon Crooked Halo. I'm very attached to the comic and the characters, and I think I could come up with further stuff for them. I think there's still potential, even if I'm not sure what to do next.

What I know for certain is that there'll definitely be new comics up before the end of April. Otherwise, I might turn into the Monkey or something.

Thursday, April 05, 2007

"How cruel and melodramatic fate is!"

Further car troubles (to the tune of a busted radiator at the cost of $520) have postponed the purchase of a tablet until after Michelle's next paycheck. So in a couple of weeks, I'll have it in hand...I hope.

Honestly, I don't like this delay any more than you guys. But hey, when your car demands repairs, you really don't have a choice.

Saturday, March 31, 2007

But why would I want to use toilet paper someone else has already used?

Still no comics, for which I apologize. I'm gonna try to go out and buy the tablet next week, wife willing.

Car repairs were effected for less than I originally figured, but it was still $1600. Ouch.

Also, the wife wants us to switch to recycled toilet paper. Personally, I feel that if it's already been used, it's taken all the crap it's gonna take. Really.

But I'm not against recycling or working to help the environment. We don't leave lights on when we're not in a room, we wash our clothes in cold water (and I only do a load of laundry when it's a full load), we recycle our papers and bottles (both plastic and glass), and Michelle got a Terra Pass for her car (you donate a specific amount of money based on your CO2 emissions and they balance out the bad electricity we use here by using cleaner, environmentally-friendly fuels in developing nations. I need to do the same, 'cause it's a groovy idea). So yeah, I like trying to do my part, I just don't feel that my part requires sacrificing decent toilet paper.

Yes, today's newspost was the one where you learned things about me you didn't really care to learn. Suck it up and deal with it.

Friday, March 23, 2007

Could it be?!

There is the possibility of new comics as early as next Monday.

Stranger things have happened, y'know.

Monday, March 19, 2007

Update

So here's the deal: I still don't have a program to update the comic with. I can't find the program I used to use, and the other programs I wanted to try (Corel Draw, Adobe Photoshop) are cost-prohibitive.

But take heart! I'm getting money from my mother and grandparents for my birthday next week, and I plan to take that cash and invest in a tablet attachment for my computer. Apple makes a couple of nice ones in my price range, as it turns out. Soon as I have that in my hot little hands, I can get to work on more comics for all ya'll.

Long story short: we're on hiatus until the beginning of April or so. I'll try to maybe get some of those comics Adam drew for me several months back posted so you've got something new to look at. 'Sides, it's a neat little side story featuring a character that never really got his chance.

Wednesday, March 07, 2007

Nooooooooo!

So, comic's on hold until I can find the software CD for the program I use to put together the comic.

No, Monkey, this has nothing to do with the fact that I switched to a Mac. I'd have the same issue if I was using a PC.

I've got about a week's worth of comics drawn and a few more sketched out, so there shouldn't be any interruption once I get the software I need. Thanks for bearing with me.

Monday, March 05, 2007

The Great Switcheroo

So we're using Macs at Casa de Cricket now.

Yeah, we made the switch to Macs from PCs this weekend, and I haven't got the the scanner set up with it yet. Hopefully you'll have a comic tomorrow night.

Hurray for Apple!

Tuesday, February 27, 2007

Rag on the Monkey

A quick glance at the Monkey's rantspace shows you what he's been up to rather than drawing comics: watching TV and taking cute pictures of his kid.

Well, he has drawn some comics in the past year or so. I think I've got most of 'em saved in email somewhere. I'll start posting them to alternate with my own comics as soon as I've finished this storyline.

*insert maniacal laughter*

Monday, February 26, 2007

Zounds

I'm still right on target with comics this week. Today's is already up, and I'm going to try to get the rest of the comics for this week (and maybe even next week) done tomorrow night in class (God, I'm such a bad influence for my own students. "What'd you do in class last night, Mr. Cottrell?" "Well, Little Timmy, I drew three comics and scripted five more!" "But isn't it a class on postsecondary and transition services for students with disabilities?" "Shut up, Little Timmy").

Anyway, expect the flow of comics to continue unabated. This storyline's coming to a close real soon, if I can get it to work out properly.

Tuesday, February 20, 2007

"I shot 'im, but I didn't mean to kill 'im!"

I made it back from New York City. The Big Apple didn't devour me whole, but I did eat at a Mob-owned restaurant. That was pretty cool.

Comic for Wednesday is ready. Comics for Friday and Monday are also scanned and ready to be uploaded, so even though I'm gonna be gone Thursday and Friday on a school ski trip, you'll still get a comic. Aren't you lucky?

Friday, February 16, 2007

"Start spreadin' the news..."

Sorry about the lack of comic today. Didn't have internet all day for some reason, and I was busy running errands and trying to make the apartment look presentable.

Heading to New York City tomorrow for the long weekend, so if you get a comic on Monday, it'll be late. Just a heads up.

Wednesday, February 14, 2007

"VD" can mean so many things...

Comic's up now. Had it all drawn and stuff last night, but forgot to scan it and load it to the site. It's there now for your viewing pleasure.

Had a snow day today. We're having another tomorrow. Everything the students learned the first two days of school is just leaking out the side of their heads as I type, I'm sure.

Monday, February 12, 2007

Why am I suddenly stylish?

Comic will go up this afternoon after work. It's already drawn, I just decided quality time with the wife was more important last night than scanning. Yeah, I know, where the hell are my priorities.

Wednesday, February 07, 2007

Let It Snow, Bi-atch

The best thing about being a teacher? Snow days.

Comic will be up this afternoon. I'm takin' the wife down to a job interview 'cause she doesn't like to drive in the snow. Can't say I blame her for that, really.

Tuesday, January 30, 2007

"Where's that confounded bridge?"

So yeah, you're probably wondering what the hell happened. It's simple, really: real life interfered. I've been busy dealing with some real-life issues the past week or so, not the least of which was our cable modem deciding it didn't want to let us access the internet anymore. I was able to get a couple of comics drawn up and saved onto my flash drive, then upload them at work, but the lack of working internet at home is a huge pain in my ass.

I'm going to try to get the internet working at home again in the next few days. I'm already starting to go into withdrawals.

And Monkey: considering the last time you really updated was December of 2005, I don't think you've got a lot of finger pointing room.

Friday, January 19, 2007

Oops`

So yeah, I meant to have a comic up Wednesday. Had it drawn and everything. But Tuesday night was more draining than I'd planned, so I didn't get it posted before I crashed.

Wednesday itself dawned with me rethinking the comic I'd drawn. I came up with a better idea. I sketched it out, then didn't get a chance last night to actually draw the thing.

So yeah, comic idea is in hand, but comic is not yet done. I'll try to get it done this evening, God willing.

Monday, January 15, 2007

Yowza

I had a busy weekend. Let's just say I had a legitimate reason for not having today's comic up on time (though it is up now, along with a drawing illustrating my excuse).

So yeah, while other webcomics guys are far behind the curve, merely proposing within the past week, I'm so far ahead it's not even funny: I got freakin' married over the weekend. So ha!

Monday, January 08, 2007

Ahead?!

You'll be pleased to hear that Wednesday's comic is already drawn.

Not scanned or uploaded, mind you, but drawn.

This is a step in the right direction to creating the elusive...buffer.

Tuesday, January 02, 2007

"The hem of your garment"

Tomorrow's comic is uploaded to the server! Also, I got the next three weeks' worth of comics scripted out in a halfway satisfactory manner, so hopefully there should be no more delays or lulls in updates. I'm feeling a renewed sense of creativity and energy, I'm liking what I've got going on with the story, and all is groovy.

Monday, January 01, 2007

2007

Happy New Year, folks. Comic will resume on Wednesday. Figured most people wouldn't be coming to visit the site on New Year's Day anyway, and I still need to draw the final panel anyway.

But hey! I sorta know what I'm doing now, so that's good.